105+ Malcolm X Quotes

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an influential civil rights leader and activist in the United States during the mid-20th century.

He is known for his fiery speeches and powerful statements, many of which continue to inspire people today.

Some of the key characteristics of Malcolm X’s quotes include:

• Radicalism: Malcolm X was a radical thinker who believed in challenging the status quo and fighting for change through direct action. His quotes often reflect this belief, advocating for revolutionary change rather than gradual reform.
• Black empowerment: Malcolm X was a strong advocate for the empowerment of Black people, and many of his quotes reflect this focus. He believed in the importance of self-determination and self-respect, and often spoke out against systemic racism and oppression.
• Honesty and authenticity: Malcolm X was known for his blunt and honest speech, and his quotes reflect this quality. He was not afraid to speak his mind or to challenge popular ideas, even if it meant being controversial or unpopular.
• Faith and spirituality: Malcolm X was a deeply spiritual person, and his quotes often reflect this aspect of his personality. He believed in the power of faith and the importance of spirituality in the struggle for social justice.
• Universalism: While Malcolm X was a strong advocate for Black rights, he also believed in the importance of unity and solidarity across different races and cultures. Many of his quotes reflect this universalist perspective, emphasizing the importance of working together to achieve common goals.

We have various Malcolm X quotes in this article.

Let’s have a look.

Malcolm X Quotes

Here are some quotes from Malcolm X:

1. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
2. “I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.”
3. “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.”
4. “We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”
5. “You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”
6. “I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.”
7. “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.”
8. “Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.”
9. “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”
10. “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.”
11. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
12. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
13. “Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
14. “The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba — yes Cuba too.”
15. “My alma mater was books, a good library… I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”
16. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
17. “Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.”
18. “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
19. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
20. “Racism is a human problem and a crime that is absolutely repugnant to a civilized society. It’s just as wrong to discriminate against someone because of his race as it is to discriminate against someone because of his religion or because he happens to be from another country.”
21. “I don’t think a wise old man can teach you anything, no matter how wise he is. You have to learn for yourself.”
22. “You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”
23. “The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”
24. “I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”
25. “The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black revolution is controlled only by God.”
26. “I have no fear whatsoever of anybody or anything.”
27. “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”
28. “I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black man’s problem.”
29. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
30. “I’m not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate, and call myself a diner. Sitting at the table doesn’t make you a diner, unless you eat some of what’s on that plate. Being here in America doesn’t make you an American. Being born here in America doesn’t make you an American.”
31. “The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba — yes Cuba too.”
32. “The price of freedom is death.”
33. “I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.”
34. “We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us.”
35. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.”
36. “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
37. “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
38. “I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.”
39. “The white man is not inherently evil, but America’s racist society influences him to act evilly. The society has produced and nourished a psychology which brings out the lowest, basest instincts in people.”
40. “The greatest mistake of the movement has been trying to organize a sleeping people around specific goals. You have to wake the people up first, then you’ll get action.”
41. I don’t believe in a single leadership. A single leadership is like a fist. When you close it, you have no hands. When you open it, you have fingers — capable of doing anything.”
42. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
43. “We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”
44. “You don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don’t have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.”
45. “Stumbling is not falling.”
46. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
47. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
48. “Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
49. “If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success.”
50. “A race of people is like a flower. It can be crushed and will still bloom again.”
51. “I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don’t believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn’t want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a two-way street.”
52. “You can’t legislate good will – that comes through education.”
53. “I’m not against progress. I’m against exploiting people.”
54. “You can’t have capitalism without racism.”
55. “We’re not Americans, we’re Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock – that rock landed on us.”
56. “I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”
57. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.”
58. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
59. “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”
60. “I don’t favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I’m also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are Black people.”
61. “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.”
62. “I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black man’s problem.”
63. “I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won’t let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion.”
64. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
65. “I believe that a man should be judged by his actions, not by his color.”
66. “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.”
67. “You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”
68. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
69. “The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black revolution is controlled only by God.”
70. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.”
71. “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self defense; I call it intelligence.”
72. “I don’t believe in violence, but I do believe in self-defense.”
73. “If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success.”
74. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
75. “You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”
76. “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.”
77. “The most important thing I learned in school is that the tools we use have a profound impact on our minds.”
78. “You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”
79. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it, I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
80. “Racism is a human problem and a crime that is absolutely repugnant to a civilized society. It’s just as wrong to discriminate against someone because of his race as it is to discriminate against someone because of his religion or because he happens to be from another country.”
81. “The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba — yes Cuba too.”
82. “Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.”
83. “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
84. “Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.”
85. “I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”
86. “We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us.”
87. “I don’t think a wise old man can teach you anything, no matter how wise he is. You have to learn for yourself.”
88. “If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
89. “The white man is not inherently evil, but America’s racist society influences him to act evilly. The society has produced and nourished a psychology which brings out the lowest, basest instincts in people.”
90. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
91. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.”
92. “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
93. “Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.”
94. “A race of people is like a flower. It can be crushed and will still bloom again.”
95. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
96. “I don’t favor violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our people by peaceful means, well and good. Everybody would like to reach his objectives peacefully. But I’m also a realist. The only people in this country who are asked to be nonviolent are Black people.”
97. “The price of freedom is death.”
98. “We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.”
99. “I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation, every form of discrimination.”
100. “I don’t believe in a single leadership. A single leadership is like a fist. When you close it, you have no hands. When you open it, you have fingers — capable of doing anything.”
101. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it’s for or against.”
102. “I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.”
103. “We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”
104. “You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.”

These quotes represent just a small sample of the powerful messages and ideas that Malcolm X espoused throughout his life as a civil rights activist and political leader.

They showcase his commitment to justice, equality, education, and self-determination, as well as his willingness to speak truth to power and fight for what he believed in.

Conclusion – Malcolm X Quotes

Malcolm X was a prominent civil rights activist and political leader who left a lasting impact on American society.

His passionate advocacy for justice, equality, and self-determination for African Americans inspired many people to take action and fight for their rights.

Malcolm X’s legacy lives on through his speeches, writings, and activism, which continue to inspire and motivate people to this day.

His words of wisdom, such as those compiled in the list of quotes above, serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and the importance of speaking truth to power.

Malcolm X’s contributions to the civil rights movement will never be forgotten, and his powerful voice continues to inspire people to fight for a more just and equitable society.

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